Slide fastener scoops or interlocking elements



Feb. 14, 1950 H.,M. FRANK SLIDE FASTENER SCOOPS 0R INTERLOCKING ELEMENTS Filed 001;. l, 1945 III Patented Feb. 14, 1950 SLIDE FASTENER SCOOPS OR INTERLOCKING ELEMENTS Herman M. Frank, New Britain, Conn asslgnor to The North & Judd Manufacturing Company, New Britain, Comp, a corporation of Connccticut Application October 1, 1945, Serial No. 619,660

8 Claims.

This invention relates to slide fasteners and, in particular, to the provision of new and improved slide fastener interlocking members, elements or scoops. 7

It is an object of this invention to provide new and improved slide fastener interlocking members, elements or scoops which are double acting, symmetrical top-and-bottom and side-toside, and which are possessed of new and improved interlocking surfaces or portions which effectively inhibit undue relative transverse movement of adjacent engaged interlocking members or scoops in a slide fastener embodying such interlocking members or scoops. I

It is a further object of this invention to provide such elements or scoops embodying interlocking surfaces or portions which are of simple form particularly adapted to production or formation, with ease and facility, by the various known methods such as forg ng, casting and molding and which surfaces, because of their simplicity and open nature, may be reduced in size to such degree, without difliculty or distortion, as to render easy the production of scoops of extremely small sizes possessed of strength and smooth operating properties heretofore possessed only by scoops or interlocking members of substantially greater size.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such scoop constructions which are universal by reason of their symmetrical and double acting nature whereby slide fastener stringers embodying such scoops may be assembled relatively haphazardly, without regard for which end' of one stringer is assembled to a given end of the other stringer and without regard for which side of either stringer is disposed forwardly since the scoops or interlocking members may be meshed or engaged with one another with equal facility by a conventional slide fastener slider in both directions of its movement over the complementary stringers.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such scoop constructions embodying, as the engaging or interlocking surfaces or portions, cam surfaces or portions prolonging the effective life of the fastener by distributing the frictional operative wear over relatively large contact surfaces. which surfaces engage and disengage in operation with minimum sliding friction and interference.

It is a further objectof this invention to provide a new and improved slide fastener construction embodyin as a part thereof. stringers including such new and improved interlocking fastener members, elements, or scoops.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the following description and the drawing, forming a part thereof and will be pointed out in the following claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of an illustrative slide fastener embodying interlocking fastener members, elements, or scoops according to this invention, with the stringers partially cut away in the interest of clear-ness of disclosure;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view showing a single scoop, according to Fig. 1, attached to a fragment of its supporting stringer tape;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view, partly in section, of portions of adjacent coupled stringers, showing the relationship between the complementary engaging scoops shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but illustrating a modified form of scoop according to this invention; and

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but illustrating the interlocking relationship of the modified form of scoop shown in Fig. 4.

The most common known slide fasteners are non-universal and single acting. The interlocking fastener members or scoops of such fasteners are non-symmetrical top and bottom since the interlocking portions thereof generally comprise a projection extending from the upper or top surface thereof and a concentric, substantially complementary recess or pocket in the lower or bottom surface thereof. For satisfactory operation of such fasteners, all scoop projections must extend in the same direction and generally upwardly with all recesses or pockets extending downwardly. In assembly, since only one end of each stringer may serve as the upper end or top end, much care and time is required which is unnecessary where, as in this invention, the scoops are universal and concentric top-andbottom and side-to-side. Either end of a stringer embodying such scoops may be combined with either end of another such stringer in assembly, irrespective of which side of either stringer is disposed forwardly of the fastener.

Various attempts have, heretofore, been made to provide scoops which are double acting but such structures which have been provided generally were either non-symmetrical top and bottom (i. e. provided with bottom surfaces dissimilar to the top surfaces) or provided with such complicated and intricate arrangements of male and female members, such as webs and channels, as to be well nigh incapable of production in the desirable small, light weight sizes with such accuracy as is necessary to achieve smooth positive operation; when reduced in size to the necessary extent the strength of such intricate engaging or interlocking portions became negligible.

According to this invention all of the above disadvantages are obviated by provision of a simple scoop construction wherein the engaging, interlocking portions or surfaces, which may properly be termed laterally extending convex and concave camsurfaces or portions, are extremely simple and massive as compared with the size of the scoops. These surfaces or portions are open top and bottom and thus readily accessible, are concentrically and symmetrically arranged and their arrangement provides a scoop wherein interference is reduced to a minimum. These scoops are possessed also of various advantages which will appear from the following description and the drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 illustrates the application of one preferred form of this invention to a slide fastener comprising a pair of similar stringers of which the right hand stringer is generally designated I and the left hand stringer is generally designated 2. Each stringer comprises a textile or other flexible tape or carrier 9 having an edge reinforcement It at its inner edge and a row of similar equally spaced interlocking fastener members, elements, or scoops il secured thereto in suitable known manner as by clamping, casting, molding or by an adhesive, depending upon the material of which the interlocking member, element, or scoop Ii is formed. Adjacent the interlocking member or scoop II the reinforced inner edges of the tapes are connected by a bottom stop or bottom end fitting I2 of known form. A top stop ll of known form is attached to each reinforced inner tape edge in known manner.

Supported for sliding movement along the rows of fastener member or scoops II, to an extent limited by the bottom stop l2 and top stops II, is a slider l5 of conventional form which is provided with a manually engageable finger piece or pull tab it for convenience of operation.

The fastener is opened by manually moving the slider downwardly toward the bottom stop l2 and closed by moving the slider I! in the reverse direction, upwardly toward the top stops It. This closing and opening of the fastener is effected through progressive engagement and disengagement of the fastener members or scoops ll of the stringers I and 8 by the cam portion of the slider l5 in a manner well known in the art.

In most slide fasteners known today, the interlocking fastener members or scoops are dissimilar top and bottom, 1. e. the interlocking portions or heads each comprise superposed complementary crown and pocket surfaces or portions. The scoops or fastener members when separated above the slider may be readily engaged by the slider but it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to reengage them when they are separated below the slider without removing and reattaching the slider. This separation generally occurs accidentally but is desirable in certain applications" in the garment and other arts.

According to this invention, the upper and lower or top and bottom sides of the fastener members or scoops are identical, making their progressive engagement by the slider substantially equally easy and convenient in both directions of movement of'the slider, i. e. upwardly or downwardly on the rows of the fastener members II.

Furthermore, before application of the components or bottom stops l2 and top stops It, the stringers I and 2 are reversible, i. e. eitherend of either stringer may be used as the top end and either side may serve as the front side since the scoops II are universal. This feature greatly simplifies assembly of the stringers together and attachment of the bottom stop i2 and top stops I m The details of one preferred form of interlocking member or scoop, according to this invention, are shown in Fig. 2 wherein it will be seen that the scoop comprises a head portion or interlocking portion II and a law or leg portion II. The leg portion It includes a pair of transversely spaced legs IS with a channel or crotch 20 therebetween, this jaw or leg portion l8 straddling the inner or reinforced edge of the stringer tape 2 with the channel or crotch 2| engaging the tape edge reinforcement II and the legs I! clampingly or otherwise closely engaging the opposite side surfaces of the stringer tape 5. This jaw or leg portion ll of the scoop II is of conventional form, the inventive novelty in the scoop Ii residing in the form or nature of the front end, head, or interlocking portion I'I thereof.

The top or upper surface of the scoop II is designated 2| and the bottom or lower surface thereof, being identical, is also designated 2i. The identical side surfaces are both designated 22. The similar rear or leg end surfaces are designated 23 and the front or front end surface, which may be properly termed the nose" or nose surface," is designated 24.

The length of the scoop is the distance between the leg end surfaces 22 and the nose surface 2!. The height of the scoop is the distance between the top and bottom surfaces 2| and the width or breadth of the scoop is the distance between the side surfaces 22.

The head or interlocking portion of the scoop ll comprises a pair of adjoining transverse sections 25 and 22, the section 25 being disposed outwardly of the section 26 in the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, and inwardly of the section 26 in the form shown in Figs. 4 and 5. These front, head or nose sections 25 and 26 are of substantially equal length, measured lengthwise of the scoop II or from the nose surface 24 rearwardly of the scoop ll toward the leg end surface 2!.

The head or nose section 25 may be said to be in the form of a symmetrical double wedge, the upper surface thereof being formed by opp itely or inwardly and centrally inclined surfaces 21 intersecting substantially centrally of the width of the scoop II to form a substantially V-section trough with the apex 28 disposed substantially centrally of the scoop II and inwardly of the plane of the upper surface 2i thereof. The lower surface of the section 25 is similar to the upper surface thereof, being formed by similar centrally and inwardly inclined surfaces 21 having their apex or intersection disposed substantially centrally of the width of the scoop and inwardly of the plane of the lower surface 2i thereof.

Thus, the section is in the general form of a double wedge, thinner at the middle than at its ends (which are coterminous with, or which coincide with, the side surfaces 22 of the scoop II). The upper and lower surfaces formed by the surfaces 2! may be termed surfaces of V-section with the V extending inwardly of the scoop from the top and bottom surfaces 2i thereof.

The head or nose section 26 is also generally of double wedge form but approaches the form of a double wedge which is thicker at its middle than at its ends (which are coterminous with, or which coincide with, the side surfaces 22 of the scoop I).

The upper surface of the section 26 is formed by a pair of surfaces 29 which are inclined transversely of the scoop and which extend transversely outwardly (and downwardly) from a common line or apex 30 substantially centrally disposed and lying substantially within the plane of the upper surface 2| of the scoop II. The lower surface of the section 26 is likewise formed by a, pair of similar, similarly arranged surfaces 23 der surfaces or shoulders 32 at each side of the scoop H (i. e. 4 shoulders or surfaces 32) which are opposed to the shoulders or surfaces 3| and separated therefrom by the troughs or channels formed therebetween by the surfaces 29.

Also formed at the common junction plane of the sections 25 and 26 are a pair of similar centrally or concentrically disposed shoulders or shoulder surfaces 33 (i, e. one top and one bottom surface 33), these surfaces being prismatic or in the form of parallelograms. As stated above, in the modification shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the disposition of the sections 25 and 26 is reversed, i. e. the section 26 is disposed outwardly of the section 25.

Thus, in the form shown in Figs. 4 and 5 the common junction plane of the sections 26 and 25 forms a pair of shoulders or shoulder surfaces 32 at each side of the scoop ii (i. e. 4 shoulders or surfaces 32) and a pair of centrally disposed shoulders or shoulder surfaces 33 (one top and one bottom shoulder or surface 33), as described above.-

The common junction plane between the inner section 25 and the outer end of the leg portion l8 forms a pair of similar centrally disposed triangular shoulders or surfaces 34, i. e. one top and one bottom shoulder or surface 34, these shoulders or surfaces being opposed to the above described shoulders or surfaces 33 and separated therefrom by the intervening channels or troughs formed by the pair of inclined surfaces 21 which form the top and bottom surfaces of the section 25.

Thus, the head or interlocking portion. of the scoop comprises a pair of adjacent transverse sections 25 and 26 having their similar top and bottom faces or surfaces formed respectively by concentric concave (21, 21) and convex (29,29)

laterally extending adjacent cam surfaces. These cam surfaces 21, 21 and 29, 29 may properly be said to be generally V-shaped. In other words, the head or interlocking portion of each scoop comprises a pair of adjacent transverse sections, one section having its top and bottom faces or surfaces formed by opposed, concentric concave substantially v-shaped cam surfaces and the other section having the corresponding top and bottom faces or surfaces formed by opposed concentric convex substantially V-shaped cam surfaces.

The pairs of cam surfaces 21, 21 are cdncentric with respect to the width or breadth of the scoop and with respect to one another; the pairs of convex cam surfaces 29, 29 are likewise concentric with respect to the width or breadth of the scoop I at each side of the scoop at the junction of the inner concave section 25 and the leg portion IS.

The showings of Figs. 1 to 5 are largely diagrammatic, rounds, fillets, tapers and other clearance providing surfaces having been omitted in the interest of clear disclosure, it being, of course, understood that in production substantially all flat, sharp and unsightly surfaces are modified according to the dictates of sound engineering and mechanical principles and aesthetics.

It will thus clearly appear that the use of weak, intricate and delicate portions and surfaces such as tongues and grooves have been eliminated as interlocking means and to prevent relative transverse movement between adjacent engaged scoops, that-function being performed by the above described transverse cam surfaces and shoulders.

The surfaces 21, '21 and 29, 29 resisting transverse movement' are of far greater extent than such tongues and grooves and the scoop is thus less susceptible to wear since wear and .friction aredistributed over the greater surface area provided thereby. Since the seating or interlocking surfaces are thus more massive, with respect to a given scoop size, than are such previously known interlocking means, scoops can be manufactured in smaller sizes accordingto this invention with ease and facility thanwas possible heretofore.

The concave-convex cam engagement renders the fastener substantially more flexible (about axes lying in the plane of the stringers) than where the connection between adjacent scoops comprises interlocking means, such as tongues and grooves, including planar and knife-edge like surfaces and portions which permit but little flexibility of this type-unless there exists substantial (and insecure and therefore dangerous) clearance between adjacent scoops which increases the likelihood of popping out or accidental uncoupling upon fiexing of the fastener about such axes.

It is, of course, to be understood that the abbve description is merely illustrative and in nowise limiting and that I desire to comprehend within my invention such modifications as are included within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus fully described my invention. what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A slide fastener interlocking member of the class described, comprising a body having a tape attaching jaw portion and a head portion extending therefrom, said head portion having similar top and bottom sides, the top and bottom surfaces of said head portion comprising adjacent transverse concave and convex cam surfaces substantially symmetrical with respect to the width of said interlocking member and with respect to each other said convex and concave cam surfaces extending transversely completely throughout the width of said head portion, being unobstructed and continuous and each being formed by a pair of merging oppositely inclined planar surface portions intersecting centrally.

2. A slide fastener interlocking element of the class described, comprising a body having a stringer tape attaching leg portion and a head portion extending from said leg portion, said head portion being symmetrical top-and-bottom and side-to-side, the top and bottom surfaces of said head portion comprising adjacent transverse concave and convex cam surfaces arranged substantially concentrically with respect to the width of said interlocking element, said concave cam surfaces being opposed and substantially aligned longitudinally of said interlocking element, and said convex cam surfaces being opposed and similarly aligned said convex and concave cam surfaces extending transversely completely throughout the width of said head portion, being unobstructed and continuous and each being formed by a pair of merging oppositely inclined planar surface portions intersecting centrally.

3. A slide fastener interlocking element of the class described, comprising a body having a tape attaching jaw portion and a head portion extending therefrom, said head portion comprising a pair of adjoining transverse sections extendin from said jaw portion, each of said transverse sections being symmetrical top-and-bottom and side-'to-side, the top and bottom surfaces of one transverse section comprising transverse concave cam surfaces and the top and bottom surfaces of said other transverse section comprising transverse convex cam surfaces, said cam surfaces being substantially symmetrical with respect to the width of said interlocking element, said concave cam surfaces being'opposed and substantially concentric with respect to one another, and said convex cam surfaces being opposed and substantially concentric with respect to one another, said convex cam surfaces being. substantially complementary with said concave cam surfaces and being adapted for interlocking engagement with the concave cam surfaces of adjacent interlocking elements in a slide fastener said convex and ,concave cam surfaces extending transversely completely throughout the width of said head portion, being unobstructed and continuous and each being formed by a pair of merging oppositely inclined planar surface portions intersecting centrally.

4. The structure defined in claim 3, wherein the junction plane of said adjoining transverse section forms similar transverse shoulders at opposite top and bottom sides of the interlocking element and wherein said shoulders at the top side of said interlocking element are adapted for engagement with the shoulders at the bottom side of a similar adjacent interlocking element in a slide fastener to prevent separation of the attached stringer tapes when said fastener is closed.

5. A scoop for interdigitating slide fasteners comprising a body having a jaw portion at one end providing for attachment to a stringer tape and having a head portion extending from said jaw portion and adapted for interlocking engagement with head portions of opposed scoops in a slide fastener, said head portion comprising an intermediate section adjoiningsaid leg portion and an outer section adjoining said intermediate section, said sections extending transversely of said scoop and having similar top and bottom surfaces, the top and bottom surfaces of one of said sections being formed by opposed concave cam surfaces of V-section and the top and bottom surfaces of the other section being formed by opposed convex cam surfaces of V-section, said concave cam surfaces being similar and said convex cam surfaces being similar and substantially complementary with said concave cam surfaces, said convex cam sections being interlockingly engageable with the concave cam surfaces of engaged interlocking members in a slide fastener said convex and concave cam surfaces extending transversely completely throughout the width of said head portion, being unobstructed and continuous and each being formed by a pair of merging oppositely inclined planar surface portions intersecting centrally.

6. In a slide fastener, a pair of complementary stringers each comprising a relatively flexible carrier with a row of predeterminedly spaced scoops secured to one edge portion thereof, each of said scoops being symmetrical top-and-bottom and side-to-side, having a jaw portion providing for attachment to said carrier and having an interlocking portion extending from said jaw portion, said interlocking portion comprising ad joining transverse sections extending from one another and said jaw portion, one of said sections having its top and bottom surfaces formed by similar opposed transversely extending concave cam surfaces of substantial V-section and the other adjacent section having its top and bottom surfaces formed by opposed convex cam surfaces of substantial V-section substantially complementary with said concave cam surfaces. said concave and convex cam surfaces being substantially concentric with respect to one another and with respect to the width of said scoop, and said transverse sections forming interlocking shoulders at their junction with one another and with said jaw portion, the outer ends of said cam surfaces coinciding with the intersection of the side surfaces with the top and bottom surfaces of said scoop, and the symmetrical nat re of said scoops rendering said stringers reversible side-for-side and end-for-end, said V-section cam surfaces bein each formed by a pair of oppositely inclined mer ing substantially rectangular planar surface portions intersecting centrally.

7. An interlocking fastener member of the class described. comprising a body havin a tape attaching jaw portion and a head portion extending therefrom, said head portion comprising a pair of adjacent transverse sections having similar top and bottom surfaces, said top and bottom surfaces of one of said transverse sections com-, prising transverse concave cam surfaces and the top and bottom surfaces of said other transverse section comprising transverse convex cam surfaces, said cam surfaces being substantially concentric with respect to the width of said in terlocking fastener member, said concave cam surfaces being opposed and substantially concentric with respect to one another, and said convex cam surfaces being opposed and substantially concentric with respect to one another, the transverse section having its top and bottom surfaces formed by said convex cam surfaces being disposed between said jaw portion and the transverse section having its top and bottom surfaces formed by said concave cam surfaces each of said" cam surfaces being of substantial V-section,

being unobstructed and formed by a pair of centrally intersecting oppositely inclined substantially planar surface portions intersecting centrally.

8. An interlocking member for interdigitating slide fasteners, comprising a body having a jaw portion at one end providing for attachment to a flexible stringer tape and having a head portion extending from said jaw portion and adapted for interlocking engagement with corresponding head portions of similar opposed interlocking members in a slide fastener, said head portion comprising an intermediate section adjoining said leg portion and an outer section adjoining said intermediate section, said intermediate and outer sections extending transversely of said body and having similar top and bottom surfaces, the top and bottom surfaces of one of said sections being formed at least partially by opposed concave cam surfaces and the top and bottom surfaces of the other section being formed at least partially by opposed convex cam surfaces, said concave cam surfaces being similar and said convex cam surfaces being similar and substantially complementary to said concave cam surfaces and interlockingly engageable with the concave cam surfaces of engaged interlocking members in a slide fastener, said concave cam surfaces being concentric with respect to one another and said convex cam surfaces being substantially concentric with REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record inthe file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,817,841 Poux Aug. 4, 1931 2,066,060 Sipe Dec. 29, 1936 2,068,939 -Winterhalter Jan. 26, 1937 r 2,322,537 5 Morin June 22, 1943 2,371,591 Cizek Mar. 13, 1945 2,392,934 Marinsky et a1 Jan. 15, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 616,421 Germany of 1933 

